If the winner could contact me via the email address on the right hand side bar I will sort your prize out for you, and please feel free to display the winner’s and top 5 badges on your blogs.

I am also extending the Design Team call which I posted last time as I realise that recycling is not to everyone’s taste and I wanted you all to have a chance to enter if you wanted to. Don’t worry about taking on too much commitment this side of Christmas because we won’t start you until we come back after our Christmas break in January, so you can apply and still get your Christmas cards made in time!

If you fancy a spot on the team please read all about it here, and add your name with your heat embossing challenge in the linky list below, adding DT after your name. If you did apply last time, don’t worry we will still be choosing from those entrants as well.

So onto this time’s challenge, as the title says Heat Embossing. This challenge is hosted by Josephine and this is what she had to say about it:

We are sponsored for this challenge by The Stampman and on offer is this fabulous prize of some Starburst Stains pots.

We are kindly sponsored for this challenge by The Stampman (and Lady of course!) who are offering the winner the lovely prize pictured above.
Starburst Stains Brush on The Fun - Holiday Wreath
Deep, rich, vibrant colours with a two-toned shimmer!
These are all dye based products, which give them that vibrancy and can be used on any porous surface, (paper, wood, fabric, balsa, chipboard, etc).
Instructions on how to use: Add hot water, (filtered preferably, especially with the stains), let sit at least 10 minutes.
Shake or stir before each use.

Well, this time on the Spotlight Challenge, it's my choice of technique, and I chose Heat Embossing. You can do anything you want as long as it includes some heat embossing.

I usedthis technique for the background on the card below. The butterflies were stamped with Versamark ink onto a shiny shoe catalogue then embossed with gold. For the centre image, I stamped and heat embossed the image onto white card, then I coloured the image with Sakura Stardust pens which give the end result a 'jeweled' effect that I like.

For this challenge I used a bargain alphabet set, some Versamark ink, clear embossing powder and lots of card scraps to make corner bookmarks to go into my Christmas cards just to let people know I'm thinking of them. I enjoyed making these but next time I don't think I will make quite as many as 40 took a while. There are some basic instruction on my blog if you want to have a go at a corner bookmark.

For this challenge I used a wooden stamp that I found whilst rummaging around for something else! I used Versamark to stamp onto Clarity cardstock and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Bright Gold embossing powder. I then layered the card onto some plain black cardstock and some gold cardstock I had in my stash. For the base card I folded an A5 sheet of black card in half, and embossed the corner using one of my favourite La Blanche foam stamps. To complete the card I used a pink satin ribbon tied in a simple bow.

This was an easy challenge for me as embossing has to be my all time favourite thing to do :)
The background panel has been created using an Embossed resist technique which I will explain in detail on my blog. The main panel has been stamped and embossed and then coloured using distress inks which I have sponged over the image. The entire panel has then been coated in clear embossing powder which when heated gives a slightly pitted and shiny finish. The stamp set is a clear set by Artemio.

Not an easy challenge for me, as most of my attempts at heat embossing seem to turn out a bit squiffy. lol. Anyway, practice makes perfect & here's my effort. I covered my card base with stripy paper, coloured the wooden numbers with my Whispers pens, then double embossed them with pink embossing powder. I matted them onto green card & doodled around the edges. Some worded ribbon, a few pearls, a punched heart & a peel off sentiment complete my design.

For this card I decided to try out a new technique I've learned recently called faux enameling to create the base background to the card. I also created the golden globe by triple embossing. I'll describe both of these techniques in detail on my blog. The images have all been aged and stamped with distress inks. I chose gold as a contrast for the embellishments and layering.

For my card I have stamped the Stampin Up! Medallion stamp with Versamark Ink onto black card and then Heat Embossed using a white puff up Embossing powder.After cutting out the Medallion I then added Gem to the blank circles on the embossed stamp. I then matted and layered onto my base card and added chiffon ribbon. The patterned paper is Sprinkled with Twinkles by Pink Petticoat. I have edged with lavender Stickles.

For this card I started by covering my cardstock with designer paper then I die cut the bauble shapes from 3 different patterned papers and inked them with a Versamark (clear) embossing pad and added ultra thick embossing powder and heated it, repeating the process 3 times until I had a good thick covering. I then inked up some flourish stamps with gold ink and while the embossing powder was still in a liquid state stamped the flourishes, waiting until it cooled a little before removing the stamp. I added ribbon and threads and a stamped greeting to complete the card.

I usually like heat embossing, but I struggled a bit with this challenge. The card I ended up with was about 7th in the line of those cards discarded because for one reason or another I wasn't satisfied with them.... I suspect I need to do more heat embossing to get my mojo back! Anyhow, this one has a heat embossed swirl in the top left corner using versamark ink pad and gold detail powder. The topper was triple embossed with ultra thick to make an "enamel tile".

For this challenge I used the Holiday Wreath starburst stains set which is our prize from The Stampman this fortnight. Its a gorgeous set and you can also make lovely spring pinks and greens with it too. I've stamped the NOEL stamp and embossed with Moonglow embossing powders (from a christmas set) over the holiday wreath starburst stains then mounted on white and more SS with 3d pads so it really sticks out. The swirl in the corner is also embossed and I added sticky gems (That come in 4 sizes on one sheet - fab!)

I decided to do a simple card with a little embossing! I first embossed my text in gold powder then in a pearl white to make it more soft. next I done the flowers in the same way with the gold and then the pearl white. Added some ribbon and small gems to finish my card.

I printed out a square and A4 sheet from the gorgeous Artylicious Seasons’ Greetings CD, and then embossed in white detail powder the fabulous baroque Christmas tree from IndigoBlu. The snowflakes are a Memory Box die, dies to die for an no mistake! The presents under the tree have been hanging around in my stash since forever.

I am sure the team would appreciate it if you stopped by their blogs!

Please post your entries for our Heat Embossing challenge here. Thank you for entering and Good Luck! Don't forget to add DT after your name if you are interested in joining our team

ARGHHHH SORRY I understand Mr. Linky was AWOL, if he disappears again please add your link in the comments section.

Monday, 14 November 2011

Our challenge this time is for you to recycle something and use it on your project. This was my crazy idea so I will be picking our Top 5 and Winner. So what do we define as recycling? Well you could for example turn a pringles container into a pen pot, the inside of a parcel tape roll to make a jewellery box. Alternatively just something on the project that is recycled, ie corrugated cardboard for background, bits of sweet box ribbon, shiny foil etc. The possibilities are endless and I am sure appeal to the little hoarder inside all of us Crafters.
We're very kindly sponsored again by the lovely Joanna Sheen who is offering a £10 voucher for her online shop which is crammed full of goodies with new stock arriving all the time! Thanks once again Joanna!

To see how how the team interpreted the challenge please scroll down, but first I have some winners and top 5s to announce. As you may have noticed Vix posted our last challenge as I had other commitments and so the winner for the previous challenge #54 Cute With a Dark Twist was not announced the winner for that one is

Would our winners kindly contact me via the email link in the right hand sidebar and I will sort out your prizes. Please feel free to display our winners and Top 5 badges. Before we start with this week’s challenge, I am having a quick DT call as we have a few members poorly at the moment and one stepped down so I would like to strengthen the team. If you are interested please put DT after your entry and we will pop along to your blog and have a look. Our requirements are
We do not offer rewards, although occasionally we may have Sponsors who might offer items to use for the challenge (normally digital) and you should be prepared to use these when offered.
We are interested in people who are willing to try different styles or showcase their own particular technique, perhaps with the occasional tutorial as we aim to be a resource for the newer crafter as well as the more experienced one. So you might like the CAS approach or excel in shabby chic, altered art, steampunk or maybe you are a scrapper. Whatever your talent we could have space for you on the team.
Your commitment will be to produce up to two projects per month and to contribute with ideas for challenges. We take it in turns to host the weekly challenge and it will be your responsibility when it is your week to choose a Top 5 and winner. You will also be responsible for commenting on entries, including to the challenges you do not participate in yourself, and to that end you will be assigned a number to comment on. For example all entries ending with 1, 2, etc. 10% of the total entries. We will be taking a break in Mid December, so please don’t let the proximty to Christmas put you off from applying.
Now back to this week’s challenge, and what the team came up with.

I went a bit mental, or should that me metal, with mine. Firstly the image was stamped onto the back of a box of cereal and coloured with cosmic shimmer micas mixed to a paint with water. The borders, swirls and flower were all made from recycled coke cans. I should issue a word of warning here, be VERY careful when you are handling them as I ended up with a sliver of metal in my thumb which took ages to fish out. After I had trimmed down the cans I added alcohol inks and left them to dry then I cut out two swirls with a Die-Namics die and two borders using an EK Success punch. The flower was a combo of S!r T!m of Hotlz' Tattered Florals Die and a small punch for the centre of the flower, plus a brad. It got a little messy on the edge of my image because I attempted to stick the flourishes down with glue gel, which didn't work. In the end I went for Stick and Stay. Full details on my blog.

I had to take out the project I had on here before as I blogged about it back in September!
I just made this new one today - it started life as a presentation box which I found lying about behind the scenes at the library, I decided it would make a good storage box for my thin dies such as my Nesties and Marianne's Creatables. Many of them are on magnetic sheets which fit well into the box - best of all there is plenty of room for more!!
I covered the box with K&Co papers and distressed the edges, added faux stitching to the panel on top then used die cut chipboard letters as well as a die cut bird and flourish to decorate.

My effort isn't anywhere near as arty or as fabulous as Jenni's, this was a container for hot chocolate by a well known chocolate manufacturer. After wiping out the inside I measured the circumference , cut my paper, punched the top and rolled it round the tub. I cut the letters from some silver paper and stuck them on. It really is foam pads in there I bought a huge wheel of pads at the NEC in the summer and when I opened them needed somewhere to store them all.

I don't often make things that aren't cards, so I had to give this challenge some thought! I eventually came across a sturdy little box which originally had some costume jewellery in it, and had the manufacturer's name across the lid. I decided it would make a lovely little gift box for Christmas, so I set to with paper, mirror board, punches, dies and some ribbon!

This Christmas cracker started life as an empty loo roll tube (before pic on my blog). I used some pretty glittery tissue paper as the base, last years Christmas papers, a pretty self adhesive border & some red raffia to tie the ends. I finished it off with a FF bear sticker. There's a perfume spray inside which I hope will make a nice Christmas gift for someone.

For the cover of my little notebook I used a old pasteboard. I receive so many parcels with stamps, PP, embellies etc (hopefully my husband will never read this *lol*) and therefore I needed a possibility to recycle it. I divided the top coat from the rest of the pasteboard - so it looks shabby chic.

I decided to do something with my pen pot. For the past 3 years it has been a simple, unadorned Smash container. You may wonder why I went with a musical theme for a pen pot, but that was dictated by the lovely paper I used from Stampin' Up. I has adverts for music on it so I partnered it with stamps from Aspects of Design called Classical Music, then added some lace to finish it off.

My family consider me to be somewhat of a hoarder (I take after my Mum lol ) so I'm sure that they will be thrilled to see that I actually made use of some of the so called 'rubbish'.
I have used the inside of a roll of DSST to create this shaker card, along with some wonderful Christmas stamps, nesties, acetate, flower soft and glitter. I even painted with coffee, how about that for recycling!

My 2 gift tags started life out as the cardboard in a board-backed envelope. I die cut this really sturdy cardboard (with a struggle lol) in my cuttlebug with a tag shaped die. Then I covered them with Tim Holtz music tissue tape. I then inked over the tape with Antique Linen distress ink.The white part of the snowflakes is also recyled from an old white envelope, which I cut into snowflakes using my Cricut, I also cut some smaller snowflakes from silver mirror card.The white buttons and ribbon are both from an old dress of my daughters.To finish I added some stickles to the snowflakes and to the ends of the ribbon.

I have used an empty box that I was given some beautiful cosmetics in as the base for my desk tidy. To make the holders for the scissors, I used the tube from the centre of a roll of wrapping paper. The centre of sticky tape rolls formed the structure of the larger compartment, while the lid from a spray can made the smaller one! It was all spray painted gold - with my trusty edgabilities cutting the decorative paper. And a strip of sticky covered in gilding flakes finished off the centre!!

My Girls at 15 & 16 don't have stockings at Christmas anymore so instead each year I find something to decorate and place under the tree for them!! As you can see from the before and after shots I've taken one of favourite coffee cans and Jazzed it up as a gift tin for one of my girls! I Have covered my can with paper from the Forever Friends Cozy Christmas range. The strips of glitter I did with strips of double sided sticky tape and the covered with Pixie Stix glitter, The Snowflakes are cut from Mirri card with Mariannes Snowflake dies and attached with pearl brads after I used a very strong Pokey tool !!

Don’t forget to stop by their blogs and give them some love.

Please remember the rules, particularly not entering your creation into anymore than 15 challenges including ours. Enjoy and we look forward to seeing just how frugal you are and what you can recycle.